Te Puna Wai Ora provides pure artesian water that originates from the Hutt River. The water enters the artesian aquifer (layers of sand, gravel and boulders locked in by clay and silt) several kilometers up the Hutt River at Taita Gorge. It is naturally filtered through the alluvial gravels and sands of the Hutt Valley over several years before reaching Petone and flowing out to the sea.
Now some of that water is drawn into Te Puna Wai Ora. The water is free from micro-organisms and organic substances. It is safe to drink in its natural form because it has been naturally filtered in its long journey through the aquifer. It is highly valued throughout the region and some consumers travel long distances to collect the water for drinking.
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Te Puna Wai Ora was commissioned as a Millennium project by Hutt City Council, with assistance from the Lottery Grants Board. It is the result of a desire by Petone residents to celebrate the uniqueness of their water by building a public art work.
The sculpture at the spring, Te Puna Wai Ora, was designed by NZ artist Louise Purvis and symbolises a water oasis, a place of rest, refreshment and exploration.
NOTE: This is a genuine Artesian water source, see Hutt City council link: (
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A Timeline of Artesian Water
1880s
Settlers in Petone and Hutt Valley draw water from wells
in the valley floor.
1903
Borough of Petone introduce a borough water reticulation
system supplied from the Korokoro stream.
1908
Borough of Lower Hutt introduce the first borough
water reticulation system from artesian wells sunk in
Williams grove.
1932
Borough of Lower Hutt supplies the Borough of
Eastbourne with water from artesian wells sunk in
Seaview Road.
1946
Hutt Park Pumping Station is commissioned supplying
artesian water from wells at Hutt Park to Lower Hutt.
1963
Borough of Petone commission new Buick Street
Pumping Station supplying artesian water to the borough
from wells in the Petone recreation grounds.
1970s
Wellington Regional Water Board (Greater Wellington —
The Regional Council) takes over ownership of wholesale
water assets from Petone Borough Council and Lower
Hutt City Council supplying treated artesian water to the
Councils for distribution.
1999
Buick Street Pumping Station decommissioned and Petone
supplied with treated artesian water from Waterloo
Treatment Plant via new Rahui Reservoir in Korokoro.
2003
Te Puna Wai Ora (Spring of Life) commissioned, supplying
pure untreated artesian water to Petone residents and
visitors from public taps and drinking fountain.